About two weeks ago, one of the best women’s basketball players from the SEC became a free agent when Khamil Pierre left Vanderbilt.
Pierre and Vandy parted ways at a time when the transfer portal was closed. But while the situation was a unique one that put Pierre’s immediate basketball-playing future in limbo, she was able to find a new team quickly in the middle of the summer.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed to SB Nation that Pierre — a 6-foot-2 forward with two years of eligibility left — has joined North Carolina State.
The news was first reported by On3. Sources said that Pierre was admitted to N.C. State and enrolled last week. She spoke with the Wolfpack coaching staff on Monday.
According to multiple sources familiar with Pierre’s transfer journey, she focused on schools in the Big Ten and ACC after departing Vanderbilt.
N.C. State recruited Pierre as a high schooler, so the Wolfpack’s coaching staff had a preexisting relationship with her and folks close to her. Sources said that N.C. State coach Wes Moore had a conversation with Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph about Pierre in recent days and the Wolfpack were “diligent” with their compliance department.
Pierre then had to apply to N.C. State and be accepted before talking to Wolfpack coaches about joining the team. Sources said that Pierre also seriously considered Michigan State, among other programs.
“Coach Wes has built a great culture at NC State,” Pierre told On3. “It’s become one of the powerhouses in the ACC, and I’m excited to be part of such a strong program and coaching staff.”
Pierre’s path to finding a new program could become more common for athletes who leave their former teams outside of the portal window. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, it’s what BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff will attempt to do after leaving Provo.
N.C. State has yet to publicly announce the addition of Pierre and will likely hold off on doing so until after she signs her financial agreement. The Wolfpack, according to sources, are confident she’ll be able to play for them this season. She’ll be the second native of Arizona on the roster, joining incoming freshman Ky’She Lunan.
Landing Pierre is a huge win for N.C. State, which had previously swung and missed on several transfer portal targets in the spring. The group that the Wolfpack courted includes Kara Dunn (Georgia Tech to USC), Allie Kubek (Maryland to Florida State), Fatmata Janneh (Saint Peter’s to Texas A&M), Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (Texas to Vanderbilt) and Kylee Kitts (Florida to Ohio State). A source indicated that N.C. State “didn’t want to overpay” for players like Janneh and Mwenentanda, both of whom landed in the SEC.
But the Wolfpack had a big question mark at the power forward spot following the graduation of Madison Hayes and after missing on those portal targets. Pierre doesn’t just fill that void — she makes the Wolfpack contenders again in the ACC.
Consider that she was the only player in the nation last season to average at least 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals per game. Pierre ranked sixth nationally in field goals made per game (8.5), 14th in steals per game (2.9) and 12th in PER (35.8). Pierre averaged 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor.
The WBCA tabbed her as an honorable mention All-American and she was a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award. Pierre was also invited to Team USA trials this summer for the FIBA AmeriCup squad.
Pierre is an athletic and versatile forward who has a great mid-range game and a natural knack for putting the ball in the basket. She’ll form a formidable front-duo with Tilda Trygger, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, and will be one of the many passing options for junior point guard Zoe Brooks.
N.C. State is coming off a season in which they — led by a pair of first-round WNBA Draft picks in Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers — were regular season champs of the ACC and advanced to the Sweet 16. With Pierre now in the fold, they have a better of chance of getting back there.
